Container seamer and enclosure therefor



G. A. GUCKEL CONTAINER SEAMERJND ENCLOSURE THEREFOR Filed April 19,v1965 Oct. 31, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Cmuer A, 60021 RUQMQMQYQhEN 933 lrrailviy Oct. 31, 1967 G..A. GUCKEL CONTAINER 'SEAMER ANDENCLOSURE THEREFOR Filed April 19, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.r'ie/mer A, Guava-'4 7 flrraen i/ v Oct. 31, 1967 G. A. GUCKEL 3, 4

' CONTAIINER SEAMEH AND ENCLOSURE-THEREFOR Filed April 19, 1965 4heetS-Sheet :5

I INVENTOR. I Gen/1407A Gut/(EZ- 3,349,542 CONTAINER SEAMER ANDENCLOSURE THEREFOR I Filed April 19, 1965 Oct. 31,1967 5. A. GUCKEL 4Sheets-Sheet 4 ,rraiwiK United States Patent 3,349,542 CONTAINER SEAMERAND ENCLOSURE THEREFOR Gerhart A. Guckel, Los Altos, Calif-Z, assignorto James Dole Engineering Co., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation ofNevada Filed Apr. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 449,097 12 Claims. (Cl. 53-112)This invention relates to a sterile or aseptic packaging process inwhich containers and their covers are sterilized, the sterile containersfilled with a sterile product, and the filled containers then coveredand sealed-all such operations being conducted under sterile or asepticconditions. More particularly, the invention is concerned with acontainer seamer and enclosure therefor within which an asepticenvironment is provided for each filled container and its cover as theyare joined to define a hermetically sealed compartment about the sterileproduct therewithin.

As explained in Patent No. 2,711,645, entitled, Apparatus forSterilizing Food Containers, in an aseptic packaging process (whichprocess usually involves rigid containers such as open-mouth metal cansand is generally referred to as canning), steam or other gas is heatedto an appropriate sterilizing temperature in excess of 212 F.

and is then introduced into the packaging or canning apparatus tomaintain sterile conditions therein. Such apparatus need not besignificantly pressurized, whereupon the sterile gaseous environmenttherein can approach atmospheric pressure, because the sterile gasintroduced into the apparatus is itself effective to prevent the ingressof outside or ambient air and other gases thereinto because of itspermitted continuous escape (which is small as a consequence of therelatively low pressures) through various openings in the apparatus. Thedetails of an aseptic canning process of the type being considered areset forth in the aforementioned patent as well as in Patent No.2,685,520, among others.

Quite evidently, it is necessary in such an aseptic packaging or canningprocess to join each filled container and cover therefor while within asterile or aseptic environment, and an object, among others, of thepresent invention is to provide an improved closure apparatus, such as acontainer seamer, comprising an enclosure structure which enables theattainment of such an aseptic environment.

Generally stated, the closure apparatus comprises a multiple-spindlecontainer seamer having two relatively rotatable components (at leastone thereof usually being of complex geometric shape), one of which is alower spindle turret provided with a plurality of spindle units adaptedto concurrently support a plurality of containers thereon and the otherof which is an upper seaming head turret provided with a plurality ofseaming heads respectively adapted to cooperatively engage and seam acontainer and cover displaced upwardly theretoward by a spindle unitaligned therewith. The apparatus also comprises an enclosure structurethat accommodates rotation of the lower spindle turret and upper seaminghead turret, and similarly accommodates reciprocable displacements ofthe various spindle units. The clearances afforded between therelatively movable surfaces, formed in part by the enclosure, are suchthat a restricted escape of sterilized gas from the interior of suchenclosure is permitted, which restricted escape is attained as a resultof the relatively small clearances provided and the consequent moisturecondensation from the sterilized gas (usually superheated steam) on thefacing surfaces defining such clearances.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of an aseptic food packaging orcanning system embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a broken, side view in elevation of the closure apparatustaken generally along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a broken, vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 5 is a broken, transverse sectional view taken along the line 5-5of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a broken, vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6of FIGURE 3.

The apparatus illustrated diagrammatically in FIG- URE 1 constitutes anaseptic packaging or canning system in which containers (particularlyopen-mouth metal cans) are sterilized, are then filled with a sterileproduct, and are thereafter closed with a sterile cover so that eachcontainer defines a hermetic enclosure about the sterile product. Suchapparatus includes a container sterilizer 15 having an infeed section 16whereat empty containers are fed onto a conveyor for movement into andthrough the sterilizer 15. Sterilized containers are discharged from thesterilizer 15 through a housing 17 and into a filler 18 at which asterile product (a food product, for example, such as milk) isintroduced into the containers. A by-pass section 19 is arranged withthe housing 17 and filler 18 so as to return to the infeed section 16any excess containers or containers otherwise not admitted into thefiller 18.

The filled containers are transported from the filler 18 through asterile atmosphere defined by a covered conveyor 20 to closure apparatus21 such as a can seamer. As each container is admitted into the closureapparatus 21, a sterile cover or lid is discharged in synchronismtherewith from a cover sterilizer 22, each filled container and a covertherefor are then united in the closure apparatus 21 to hermeticallyseal the sterile product within the container, and the filled containersare then discharged through a conveyor section 23.

The entire apparatus including the container sterilizer 15, the coversterilizer 22, the housing 17 and conveyor 20, the filler 18, and theclosure apparatus 21 has a sterile atmosphere maintained throughout. Inorder to maintain such sterile atmosphere, a gaseous fluid such assteam, superheated to a temperature of about 500 F. at approximatelyatmospheric pressure, is continuously directed into the apparatus atappropriate locations. In the system illustrated, a heater unit 24which, for example, may be of the gas burner type as indicated by theburner mechanism 25, has water delivered thereto through an infeedconduit 26. The water is converted into superheated steam within theheater unit 24 and is delivered to such locations along the apparatus bymeans of a discharge conduit 27.

In the apparatus shown, the sterile atmosphere within the filler 18 isprovided by sterilizing air pumped through the heater 24 by a suitableblower or fan and conveyed to the filler by a manifold 28 (which isbroken off in FIG- URE l for purposes of simplifying the drawing and topermit a clear illustration of components of the system otherwiseconcealed by the manifold). With respect to the present invention, thecontainer sterilizer 15, filler 18, cover sterilizer 22, heater unit 24,and the respectively associated and intervening components all may becompletely conventional.

The closure apparatus 21 in the specific structure illustrated is a canseamer which, for the most part, may be substantially conventional and,for example, can be an Angelus, Model 66L Seamer made by the AngelusSanitary Can Machine Co. of Los Angeles, Calif. The general structuraland operational characteristics of a seamer of this type are describedin Patent No. 2,052,620. Accordingly, the apparatus comprises a base 29having a lower spindle turret 30 supported thereon. Also supported bythe base 29 are a plurality of upwardly extending struts 31 and 32which, adjacent their upper ends, have a casing or gear housing 33mounted thereon. Depending from the housing 33 and rotatable withrespect thereto is an upper seaming head turret 34. Both the lowerturret 3t and upper turret 34 are rotatable with respect to the base 29and struts 31 and 32, and rotational displacements are imparted to theturrets through a drive shaft 35 (FIGURE 3) and gearing (not shown)located within the upper housing 33 and lower base 29.

The lower turret 30 comprises a generally annular plate 36 supportedalong the upper face of a platform 37 carried by the base 29 and rigidlyrelated thereto. The plate 36 is rotatable with respect to the platform37 and is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending spindle units(there being six in the structure shown respectively denoted with thenumerals 38a through 38f). Each of the spindle units 38 is provided witha support or bearing block 39 fixedly secured to the plate 36 so as torotate therewith. Each unit 38 further comprises a rod or shaft 40,vertically reciprocable with respect to the bearing block 39, carryingalong the upper end thereof a pedestal 41 adapted to support a filledcontainer 42 thereon.

The shaft and pedestal 41 carried thereby are vertically reciprocablebetween an uppermost position, shown in FIGURE 4, in which the containerand a cover supported thereon are displaced upwardly into operativeengagement with one of a plurality of seaming heads 43 carried by theupper turret 34, and a lower position in which the container 42 andcover thereon are displaced downwardly and away from the head 43. Theturret 34 is provided with a seaming head for each of the spindle units38, and such seaming heads are respectively aligned in a verticaldirection with the spindle units.

Reciprocatory displacements are enforced upon each shaft 40 and itspedestal 41 as the turret 30 is rotated, and such displacements areusually effected by cam mechanism (not shown) which, in accordance withthe angular position of the turret, lowers the spindle unit intoposition for receiving a container thereon, thereafter elevates suchcontainer against an overlying cover to position the same upon the openmouth of the container and then into operative engagement with theassociated seaming head 43, and after the seaming operation, lowers thesealed container to permit discharge thereof from the closure apparatus.

The containers 42 are appropriately located along the respectivepedestals 41 by a guide 44 which is somewhat in the nature of a starwheel and is provided with a plurality of semi-circular recesses eachdimensioned to accommodate a container 42 therein, as shown in FIGURES 3and 4. Evidently, there are six such recesses and, for purposes ofidentification, they are respectively denoted 45a through 45 The guide44 rotates with the lower turret 30 to continuously maintain apredetermined positional relation with the spindle units 38.

The upper turret 34 rotates in enforcing synchronism with the lowerturret 30 and, in addition, each of the seaming heads 43 rotates inperforming a seaming operation about an axis therethrough which issubstantially coincident with the longitudinal axis through a container42 supported upon the associated pedestal 41. Such rotational movementof the seaming head is necessary for the purpose of uniting eachcontainer with a cover therefor. Moreover, the seaming head 43, in theusual case, comprises a plurality of seaming rollers that are cammedinwardly toward the upper edge of the container during the seamingoperation and, therefore, means (not shown) must be provided to effectsuch inward camming displacements of the rollers.

Referring to FIGURE 3 in particular, containers, after they have beenfilled with a sterile product, are advanced into the closure apparatus21 through the conveyor 20 which comprises an endless chain 46 equippedwith a plurality of flights 47 secured thereto at spaced apart intervalstherealong. The flights 47 are adapted to respectively engage containers42, as shown, to advance the same toward the lower turret 30. Theconveyor chain 46 is entrained about drive and idler sprockets (notshown), and it is adapted to pass downwardly through an opening 48provided'for this purpose in the bottom wall or plate 49 of theaforementioned enclosure structure. The opening 48 is laterallyelongated, as shown at 50, to accommodate downward movement of theflights 47 through the bottom closure wall 49.

The conveyor 20 through the flights 47 thereof is effective to displaceeach container 42 onto a pedestal 41 of one of the spindle units 38. Atthe same time that containers are being so delivered, covers 51 arebeing advanced toward the turret 30 by a transfer mechanism 52 forming apart of the closure apparatus. The transfer mechanism 52 includes atrack, defined by inner and outer rails 53 and 54, that terminates inoverlying relation with the lower turret 30 at a position such that acover 51 located at the inner terminal end of the track (which generallocation may be referred to as the assembly station) is essentiallyaligned with a container then supported on the adjacent pedestal 41.Therefore, such container will engage the aligned cover and seat thesame on its open end when displaced upwardly toward the cover by theshaft 40 and pedestal 41.

The covers 51 are respectively displaced along the track defined by therails 53 and 54 by a plurality of pusher fingers 55 that are rotatablydriven by a shaft 56 rotated in synchronous relation with the shaft 35.The time relationship enforced upon the containers 42 and covers 51 issuch that each successive cover meets with a container adjacent the endof the track so that the cover can be seated upon such aligned containerand subsequently united therewith by the associated seaming head 43.

The sealing operation is performed as the turrets angularly displaceeach container from the assembly station position occupied by thespindle unit 38d (in FIGURE 3) to the position occupied by the spindleunit 38a in such figure. By the time that the sealed containerapproaches the discharge station occupied by the spindle unit 45b, theunit is in its lowermost position and the sealed container thereon isready to be displaced from the pedestal 41 by a star wheel 57 rotatablydriven by a shaft 58 rotated in synchronism by the aforementioned shafts35 and 56. The star wheel 57 is provided with a plurality of arcuaterecesses successively oriented and disposed to have a sealed containerpositioned therein and to displace such container angularly along anarcuate path defined by a guide 59 which communicates with theaforementioned discharge conveyor section 23.

In addition to the aforementioned bottom wall 49, the enclosurestructure includes an annular ring 60 having a plurality of circularopenings therein spaced apart angularly and respectively aligned withthe pedestals 41 so as to pass the same therethrough. For purposes ofidentification, such openings are denoted with the numeral 61, theletter suffixes a through 3 being used therewith to respectivelyassociate such openings with the spindle units 38a through 38 The ring60 is mounted upon the lower turret 30 so as to rotate therewith and,for this purpose, a plurality of support brackets 62 are provided whichat their lower ends are fixedly related to the plate 36 of the turret bycap screws 63. In a similar manner, the brackets 62 at their upper endsare fixedly related to the ring 60 by cap screws 64. In particular, asshown most clearly in FIGURE 2, the plate 36 is provided with aplurality of upwardly extending bosses 65 respectively aligned with thesupports 62 to receive the same thereon. The supports 62 extend upwardlya spaced distance from the plate 36 and bosses 65 thereon so as todispose the ring 60 at a predetermined elevation above the plate.

As illustrated in FIGURE 4, the ring 60 is a relatively thick elementfrom top to bottom, and the lower portion of each opening 61 is somewhatreduced in diameter. The mergence of such lower portion of reduceddiameter with the upper portion of the opening defines an annularshoulder or seat 66. The diameter of the lower portion of each opening61 is only slightly larger than the outer diameter of the associatedpedestal 41 and a loose fit is thereby provided therebetween. In acorresponding manner, the diameter of the upper portion of each opening61 is only slightly larger than the outer diameter of the flange 67provided by the associated pedestal 41 along the upper edge thereof sothat such flange is freely reciprocable with respect to the upperportion of such opening. The clearances defined between the facingsurfaces of each pedestal and the upper and lower portions of the ringopenings are in the approximate range of 0.010 to 0.020 of an inch ineach instance. The plate 49 has a large central opening 68 therein ofcircular configuration dimensioned so as to approximate the outerdiameter of the ring 60 which, it may be noted, has a circularperimeter. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the plate49 is a stationary element and the ring 60 rotates relative thereto; andthe clearance defined between the adjacent facing surfaces of the plate49 and ring 60 is in the approximate range of 0.010 to 0.020 of an inch,as in the case of the ring and adjacent surfaces of the pedestals 41. Asimilar clearance is defined between the inner surface of the ring 60and facing outer surface 69 of an inner collar 70 fixedly related to acentral standard or casing component 71 of the closure apparatus as bymeans of a plurality of screws 72. Evidently, the facing surfaces of thering 60 and collar 70 are circular, and the collar rotates with the ringbecause the casing component 71 to which it is secured rotates with thelower turret.

As stated hereinbefore, the plate 49 together with the ring 60,pedestal-s 41 and collar 70, form the bottom wall of the aforementionedenclosure; and although the ring, pedestals and collar are rotated bythe lower turret, the plate is stationary since it is secured to thebase 29 of the closure apparatus through the struts 31 and 32. As shownin FIGURE 3, the plate 49 may be formed in two or more sections forassembly purposes (as is the ring 60), and it is fixedly related to thestrut 31 by a collar 73 clamped or otherwise secured thereto and towhich the plate 49 is anchored, as by cap screws 74. In a similarmanner, the plate 49 is secured to the strut 32 by a collar 75 and capscrews 76. Along the rear portion of the plate 49, it may be secured toappropriate casing elements of the closure apparatus for supportpurposes, as by means of cap screws 77 (shown in FIGURE 3) which extendthrough the plate and are threadedly received within a frame component78 provided by the closure apparatus or transfer section 52.

The closure apparatus also includes a plurality of upwardly extendingwall elements denoted in their entirety with the numeral 79. The Wallelements 79 are removably secured to the plate 49, as by means of capscrews 80, since the vertical dimension of the enclosure must be changedwhen the closure apparatus is adjusted to accommodate containers ofdifferent height. As illustrated best in FIGURES 2 and 3, the upwardlyextending wall sections 81, 82 and 83 which comprise a part of the wallstructure 79 are respectively provided with doors 84, 85 and 86 thataffords access to the interior of the enclosure. The doors may behingedly related to the respectively associated wall sections to permitswinging movement of the doors and they can be provided withconventional clasps to permit selective opening and closing of thedoors. The hinges and clasps are shown in both FIGURES 2 and 3, and foran exemplary identification, the hinge of the door 85 is denoted 87 andthe clasp therefor is denoted 88.

.The enclosure is further provided with a top wall or plate 89 located aspaced distance above the bottom plate 49 and oriented in substantiallyparallel relation with respect thereto. The top wall 89 may be carriedin part by collars 90 and 91 that are respectively clamped to the struts31 and 32 and have the top wall fixedly sec-ured thereto as by means ofcap screws. The top wall 89 is provided with a circular inner edge orsurface 92 disposed in spaced, facing relation with the outer surface 93of the upper turret 34 to enable such turret (and particularly thesurface 93 thereof) to rotate relative to the top wall. The clearancebetween the facing surfaces 92 and 93 is in the order of 0.010 to 0.020of an inch, as in the case of the aforementioned facing, relativelymovable surfaces.

The upwardly extending wall members 79 are removably secured to the topwall 92, as by means of cap screws 94, so as to permit such upwardlyextending walls to be interchanged for those of different verticaldimension to accommodate change in the height of cans being processed bythe apparatus, as heretofore described.

As shown in FIGURE 1, an infeed conduit 95 connects with the dischargeconduit 27 from the heater unit 24, and extends generally along the topwall 89 to a point at which it turns downwardly and projects through anopening provided therefor in the top wall and into the interior of theenclosure. Within the interior of the enclosure, the conduit 95 iscoupled through a connector T 96 with a pair of distribution conduits 97and 98 that are generally horizontally disposed one above the other, andare therefore essentially parallel with the bottom and top walls 49 and89 of the enclosure. The distribution conduits 97 and 98 are capped atthe ends thereof and may be respectively supported by L-shaped brackets'99 and 100 which are respectively secured to the top wall 89 and bottomwall 49 of the enclosure. Each distribution conduit, as shown in FIGURES3 and 4, is provided with a plurality of inwardly facing dischargeapertures, 101 in the case of the conduit 97 and 102 in the case of theconduit 98, through which sterilized gas is discharged into the interiorof the enclosure to maintain an aseptic atmosphere therewithin.

The major escape of sterilized gas from the enclosure occurs through thedischarge opening 103 formed in the upwardly extending wall 82 of theenclosure and oriented in alignment with the discharge conveyor section23 located exterior of the wall 82. Aligned with the discharge opening103 within the interior of the enclosure are a pair of guides 104 and105, each of which is in the form of a generally L-shaped channel boltedor otherwise secured to the bottom wall or plate 49 of the enclosure.The guides 104 and 105 define a passageway 106 therebetween dimensionedto pass containers 42 therealong and outwardly through the dischargeopening 103. As noted in FIGURE 3, the guide 104 is in alignment withand effectively forms a continuation of the aforementioned arouate guide59.

There is very little escape of gas to atmosphere through the entranceinto the enclosure because such entrance connects with one end of thecovered conveyor 20 which, at its other end, connects with the tillerapparatus 18. The filler apparatus is also enclosed so that an asepticatmosphere can be provided therewithin. The sterile gas within theenclosure 'can escape, however, through the aforementioned opening 48that passes the conveyor chain 46 therethrough, and it can furtherescape through a cover reject opening 107 formed in the upwardlyextending side wall 84 of the enclosure.

As shown best in FIGURE 6, the reject opening 107 communicates with achute 108 located within the interior of the enclosure and which isgenerally downwardly and outwardly oriented. The entrance into the chuteis denoted with the numeral 109, and it is generally aligned in both thevertical and transverse directions with the terminal end of the covertrack defined by the rails 53 and 54. The function of the rejectstructure formed Z by the openings 107 and 109 together with the chute108 is to discharge covers 51 which are advanced into the closingapparatus by the transfer mechanism 52, and which do not for some reasonmeet with a container 42 and are not, therefore, immediately used in theclosing apparatus.

In this respect, each of the pusher fingers 55, which are orbitallydriven by the shaft 56 to traverse an arcuate path defined in part bythe track-forming rails 53 and 54. is magnetized and, therefore,develops a gripping force on a cover 51 in engagement therewith. In theusual instance, covers are formed of a magnetic base metal such as steeleffectively encapsulated in a suitable coating material such as tinsolder and/ or lacquer, as is well known. Accordingly, each cover 51 ismagnetically attracted to the associated pusher finger 55 in positiveengagement therewith. Such positive connection between a finger andcover is maintained as the cover is advanced along the track to theassembly station, defined by the location of the spindle unit 38d inFIGURE 3.

At the assembly station, the spindle unit located thereat is movingupwardly to displace a container 42 mounted thereon into engagement withan overlying cover 51 and to thus urge such cover and the upper endportion of the container into the associated seaming head 43 which willthereafter unite the container and cover. This upward movement of thecontainer will be effective to remove the cover from the magnetic gripof the adjacent pusher finger. However, if there is no container 42positioned upon the upwardly moving spindle unit, the overlying cover 51will not be displaced from the grip of the pusher finger; and,consequently, such cover will not be utilized in the closing apparatus.

As each cover 51 moves into the assembly station, it has a relativelyhigh velocity (which, by way of example, in a specific closing apparatushaving six spindles, as shown, and is processing about 400 cans perminute will be about 200 linear feet per minute). The centrifugal forcedeveloped in each cover at such high velocities is sufficiently great toovercome the centripetal component of the magnetic gripping forceexerted by the pusher finger, and since the track terminates at theassembly station, the unconfined cover accelerates away from theassociated pusher finger and toward the opening 109 in the rejectstructure.

The momentum in each released cover is sufficiently great to carry itthrough such opening 109, downwardly through the chute 108, andoutwardly through the opening 107. Thus, any cover advanced into theclosing apparatus and which does not meet with a container at theassembly station is immediately discharged from the enclosure throughthe reject structure thereof.

The aforementioned clearance of from 0.010 to 0.020 of an inch providedbetween the relatively movable facing surfaces respectively provided bythe enclosure structure and by the closing apparatus is in itselfsufficiently small to restrict the escape of sterlizing gas between suchsurfaces. Moreover, it has been found that such a clearance results inthe accumulation in such spaces of condensation from the sterilizing gas(usually superheated steam), and that the condensation forms a seal thatsubstantially inhibits the escape of gas. Thus, there is substantiallyno loss of sterilizing gas between the facing surfaces respectivelydefined by the top wall 89 and seaming head turret 34, between thefacing surfaces respectively defined by the bottom wall 49 and ring 60,between such surfaces of the ring 60 and collar 70, and between the ring60 and spindle units 38 provided by the lower turret 30.

The closure apparatus 21 can be adjusted so as to accommodate containers42 of different vertical dimension. If there is a significant change inthe vertical dimension of the containers, it may be necessary to changethe vertical spacing between the bottom wall 49 and top wall 89 Of theenclosure structure. Such change is accomplished 8 in the apparatusshown by removing the upwardly extending wall elements 79, cap screwsbeing used to secure the same in position, and replacing such wallelements with those of appropriate vertical dimension. The gap orclearance provided between the ring 60 and collar 70 ati'ords relativevertical displacements between these two elements to facilitateadjustment of the apparatus to accommodate containers of differentheights.

In operation, the closure apparatus 21 functions in the usual mannerwith containers 42 (which have been sterilized and filled with a sterileproduct) being delivered thereto in succession for respectivedisposition onto the spindle units 38. Such positioning of thecontainers on the spindle units occurs essentially at the assemblystation which is occupied by the spindle unit 38d in the illustration ofFIGURE 3. Similarly, a succession of sterilized covers 51 are advancedinto the closing apparatus and into the assembly station in timedrelation with the arrival of containers 42 thereat for respectiveassembly therewith. Thereafter, each container and cover therefor areunited in the usual manner by the cooperative action of the reciprocablespindle units and respectively associated seaming heads as the upper andlower turrets angularly displace the container-cover composition to thedischarge station generally indicated by the star wheel 57. Thecompletely closed containers are then discharged from the apparatusthrough the exit opening 103 thereof, as heretofore described.

During this entire closing operation, an aseptic environment is providedby the enclosure structure and sterilized gaseous atmospheretherewithin. Accordingly, the sterile product within each container isassuredly maintained in such sterile condition after the container isproperly closed with a cover and a hermetic compartment thereby providedabout the product. Contamination of the interior of the enclosure by theadmission of ambient air thereinto is prevented by the continuous escapeof gas through any openings about the enclosure, which principallycomprise the discharge opening 103 and the opening 109 of the rejectstructure.

As the covers 51 are successively advanced along the track defined bythe rails 53 and 54 by the pusher fingers 55, they are intended torespectively meet with containers 42 delivered to the assembly stationin timed relation therewith. In the absence of such meeting, the covercontinues to have motion imparted thereto by the associated pusherfinger which is moving continuously; and the centrifugal force of thecover corresponding to the velocity of movement thereof and terminationof the constraint previously supplied by the track causes the cover tobreak loose from the magnetic grip of the pusher finger and to carryinto the chute 108 and outwardly through the opening 107 thereof, asshown in FIGURE 6.

While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention hasbeen set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making an adequatedisclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatnumerous changes may be made in such details without departing from thespirit and principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with container closure apparatus in which a successionof product-filled containers are respectively positioned upon aplurality of reciprocable spindle units for assembly with covers, suchassembly of the containers and covers being effected as the spindleunits are angularly displaced about a closed path by a rotatable spindleunit turret to advance each container and its cover from the entrance tothe exit of the apparatus; a ring element carried by said turret so asto rotate therewith and being provided with a plurality of openingsrespectively receiving said spindle units therein and being dimensionedto enable the spindle units to reciprocate with respect thereto, astationary bottom wall supported by said apparatus and providing asurface oriented in circumjacent facing relation with said ring withsufiicient clearance to permit relative rotation therebetween, aplurality of upwardly extending wall elements secured to said bottomwall, a top wall secured to said upwardly extending walls, said bottomwall, upwardly extending wall elements, top wall and said ring elementcomprising enclosure structure defining an enclosure about said spindleunits, and means for admitting a sterilizing gas into said enclosure toprovide an aseptic atmosphere therewithin, saidlenclosure structurehaving a continuously open exit through which closed containers aredischarged and through which the sterilizing gas is permittedto escapecontinuously.

2. In combination with container closure apparatus in which a successionof product-filled containers are respectively positioned upon aplurality of reciprocable spindle units for assembly with covers, suchassembly of the containers and covers being effected as the spindleunits are angularly displaced about a closed path by a rotatable spindleunit turret to advance each container and its cover from the entrance tothe exit of the apparatus; a ring element carried by said turret so asto rotate therewith and being provided with a plurality of openingsrespectively receiving said spindle units therein and being dimensionedto enable the spindle units to reciprocate with respect thereto, astationary bottom wall supported by said apparatus and providing asurface oriented in circumjacent facing relation with said ring withsuflicient clearance to permit relative rotation therebetween, aplurality of upwardly extending wall elements secured to said bottomwall, a top Wall secured to said upwardly extending walls, said bottomwall, upwardly extending wall elements, top wall and said ring elementcomprising enclosure structure defining an enclosure about said spindleunits, and means for admitting a sterilizing gas into said enclosure toprovide an aseptic atmosphere therewithin, said enclosure structurehaving a continuously open exit through which closed containers aredischarged and through which the sterilizing gas is permitted to escapecontinuously, the clearances defined between said ring element andreciprocable spindle units and between said ring element andcircumjacent bottom Wall being sufliciently close that moisturecondensation effectively closes the same to restrict the escape ofsterilizing gas when superheated steam is employed therefor.

3. In combination with container closure apparatus in which a successionof product-filled containers are respectively positioned upon aplurality of reciprocable spindle units for assembly with covers, suchassembly of the containers and covers being eflfected as the spindleunits are angularly displaced about a closed path by a rotatable spindleunit turret to advance each container and its cover from the entrance tothe exit of the apparatus; a ring element carried by said turret so asto rotate therewith and being provided with a plurality of openingsrespectively receiving said spindle units therein and being dimensionedto enable the spindle units to reciprocate with respect thereto, astationary bottom wall supported by said apparatus and providing asurface oriented in circumjacent facing relation with said ring withsufiicient clearance to permit relative rotation therebetween, aplurality of upwardly extending wall elements secured to said bottomwall, a top wall secured to said upwardly extending walls, said bottomwall, upwardly extending wall elements, top wall and said ring elementcomprising enclosure structure defining an enclosure about said spindleunits, and means for admitting a sterilizing gas into said enclosure toprovide an aseptic atmosphere therewithin, said enclosure structurehaving a continuously open exit through which closed containers aredischarged and through which the sterilizing gas is permitted to escapecontinuously, said enclosure structure also having a continuously opencover discharge structure through which unused covers are ejected andthrough which the sterilizing gas is permitted to escape continuously.

4. The coinbination of claim 3 in which the clearances defined betweensaid ring element and reciprocable spindle units and between said ringelement and circumjacent bottom wall are sufficiently close thatmoisture condensation effectively closes the same to restrict the escapeof sterilizing gas when superheated steam is employed therefor.

5. In combinationwith container closure apparatus in which a successionof product-filled containers are respectively positioned upon aplurality of reciprocable spindle units for assembly with covers by thecoaction of a plurality of seaming heads respectively associated withsaid spindle units, such assembly of the containers and covers beingeffected as the spindle units and seaming heads are ang-ularly displacedabout a closed path by a rotatable spindle unit turret and rotatableseaming head turret to advance each container and its cover from theentrance to the exit of the apparatus; a ring element carried by saidturret so as to rotate therewith and being provided with a plurality ofopenings respectively receiving said spindle units therein and beingdimensioned to enable the spindle units to reciprocate with respectthereto, a stationary bottom wall supported by said apparatus andproviding a surface oriented in circumjacent facing relation with saidring with sufiicient clearance to permit relative rotation therebetween,a plurality of upwardly extending wall elements secured to said bottomwall, a top wall secured to said upwardly extending wall and providing asurface oriented in circumjacent facing relation with said seaming headturret with sufficient clearance to permit relative rotationtherebetween, said bottom Wall, upwardly extending wall elements, topwall and said ring element comprising enclosure structure defining anenclosure about said spindle units, and means for admitting asterilizing gas into said enclosure to provide an aseptic atmospheretherewithin, said enclosure structure having a continuously open exitthrough which closed containers are discharged and through which thesterilizing gas is permitted to escape continuously.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which said enclosure structure also hasa continuously open cover discharge structure through which unusedcovers are ejected and through which the sterilizing gas is permitted toescape continuously.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which all of the aforesaid clearancesare sufficiently close that moisture condensation effectively closes thesame to restrict the escape of sterilizing gas when superheated steam isemployed therefor.

8. In combination with container closure apparatus in which a successionof product-filled containers are advanced one-by-one into an assemblystation and in which a succession of covers are similarly advancedoneby-one into such assembly station to meet a container thereat;enclosure structure providing an enclosure within which the assembly ofeach container and cover therefor is effected, means for admitting asterilizing gas into said enclosure to provide an aseptic atmospheretherewithin, and a transfer mechanism including an arcuate trackterminating adjacent such assembly station and a pusher structure fordisplacing each cover along such track, said enclosure structure havinga cover discharge struc ture generally aligned with said assemblystation and through which unused covers are ejected, the inertia of anycover being sufiicient to carry the same outwardly through said coverdischarge structure whenever a container is not in a position to meet acover as it is advanced into the assembly station.

9. The combination of claim 8 in which said pusher structure includes amagnetized pusher finger for engagement with a cover to displace thesame toward said assembly station, the inertia of the cover beingsufficient to displace the same from the magnetic grip of such fingerwhen a container is not in position to meet such cover at the assemblystation.

10. The combination of claim 8 in which said cover discharge structureis continuously open and sterilizing gas continuously escapes therefrom.

11. In combination with container closure apparatus in which asuccession of product-filled containers are advanced one-by-one into anassembly station and in which a succession of covers are similarlyadvanced oneby-one into such assembly station to meet a containerthereat, such closure apparatus including a rotatable spindle unitturret equipped with a plurality of reciprocable spindle unitsrespectively adapted to receive a container thereon at such assemblystation and also including .a rotatable seaming head turret equippedwith a plurality of seaming heads respectively associated with saidspindle units for coaction therewith, such assembly of the containersand covers being effected as the rotational movement of said turretsadvances each container and its cover from the entrance to the exit ofthe apparatus; enclosure structure providing an enclosure within whichthe assembly of each container and cover therefor is effected, means foradmitting a sterilizing gas into said enclosure to provide an asepticatmosphere therewithin, and a transfer mechanism for displacing eachcover into such assembly station, said enclosure structure having acover discharge structure generally aligned with said assembly stationand through which unused covers are ejected by their own inertiawhenever a container is not in a position to meet a cover as it isadvanced into the assembly station, said enclosure structure comprisingboth stationary and rotatable components and also accommodatingreciprocable displacements of said spindle units, the clearances definedbetween facing relatively movable surfaces being sufiicient to restrictthe escape of sterilizing gas from said enclosure.

12. The combination of claim 11 in which one of the elements of saidenclosure structure comprises a ring carried by said spindle unit turretso as to rotate therewith and being provided with a plurality ofopenings respectively receiving said spindle units therein and beingdimensioned to enable the spindle units to reciprocate with respectthereto, said spindle unit turret being equipped With a collar rotatabletherewith, said ring and collar having spaced apart facing surfacesaffording relative movement therebetween for adjustment of the closureapparatus to accommodate containers of different height.

No references cited.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION WITH CONTAINER CLOSURE APPARATUS IN WHICH A SUCCESSIONOF PRODUCT-FILLED CONTAINERS ARE RESPECTIVELY POSITIONED UPON APLURALITY OF RECIPROCABLE SPINDLE UNITS FOR ASSEMBLY WITH COVERS, SUCHASSEMBLY OF THE CONTAINERS AND COVERS BEING EFFECTED AS THE SPINDLEUNITS ARE ANGULARLY DISPLACED ABOUT A CLOSED PATH BY A ROTATABLE SPINDLEUNIT TURRET TO ADVANCE EACH CONTAINER AND ITS COVER FROM THE ENTRANCE TOTHE EXIT OF THE APPARATUS; A RING ELEMENT CARRIED BY SAID TURRET SO ASTO ROTATE THEREWITH AND BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF OPENINGSRESPECTIVELY RECEIVING SAID SPINDLE UNITS THEREIN AND BEING DIMENSIONEDTO ENABLE THE SPINDLE UNITS TO RECIPROCATE WITH RESPECT THERETO, ASTATIONARY BOTTOM WALL SUPPORTED BY SAID APPARATUS AND PROVIDING ASURFACE ORIENTED IN CIRCUMJACENT FACING RELATION WITH SAID RING WITHSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE TO PERMIT RELATIVE ROTATION THEREBETWEEN, APLURALITY OF UPWARDLY EXTENDING WALL ELEMENTS SECURED TO SAID BOTTOMWALL, A TOP WALL SECURED TO SAID UPWARDLY EXTENDING WALLS, SAID BOTTOMWALL, UPWARDLY EXTENDING WALL ELEMENTS, TOP WALL AND SAID RING ELEMENTCOMPRISING ENCLOSURE STRUCTURE DEFINING AN ENCLOSURE ABOUT SAID SPINDLEUNITS, AND MEANS FOR ADMITTING A STERILIZING GAS INTO SAID ENCLOSURE TOPROVIDE AN ASEPTIC ATMOSPHERE THEREWITHIN, SAID ENCLOSURE STRUCTUREHAVING A CONTINUOUSLY OPEN EXIT THROUGH WHICH CLOSED CONTAINER AREDISCHARGED AND THROUGH WHICH THE STERILIZING GAS IS PERMITTED TO ESCAPECONTINUOUSLY.